I know what you are thinking…why would anyone plan a road trip to ALABAMA?! I agree, it wasn’t on the top of my travel list, but I was pleasantly surprised with the outdoor hidden gems. Below you will find the best dog-friendly stops on a North Alabama Road Trip + sample itineraries and hotel recommendations!
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Table of Contents
North Alabama Road Trip with Dogs Map
Tip!! You can click on this map and use it for your own North Alabama road trip!
Dog-friendly North Alabama Road Trip Stop Details
(Stops are listed from West to East as we started this North Alabama road trip from Dallas, Texas. If you’re looking for dog-friendly weekend trips from Dallas, then click here!)
Dismal Canyons
I’m a sucker for unique dog-friendly stops and immediately upon stumbling upon Dismal Canyons in my research, I began planning the rest of the trip around this stop.
A trip to this lush mossy canyon will make you question if you are truly in Alabama.
Dismal Canyons is an 85-acre National Natural landmark that features a 1.5-mile trail that meanders through the mossy rocks, past waterfalls, through slot canyons, and over swinging bridges. Aside from the beautiful scenery, it’s also one of the only places in the world where you can see Dismalites (the insects that glow blue).
There are only 2 cabins and 6 campsites at Dismal Canyons so if you are hoping to stay onsite, make sure to make your reservation early. There is also a day fee to enter + reservations needed to secure a spot on the night tour.
Click here for the complete guide to visiting Dismal Canyons
Natural Bridge Park
You don’t have to visit Utah to see epic natural arches! Located just 30 minutes south of Dismal Canyons, Natural Bridge Park is a must-stop on a dog-friendly North Alabama Road Trip.
After paying your 3 dollars (per person) entry fee at the gift shop, you can head out on the trail. The trail is about a 1-mile round trip, but the natural bridge is located pretty close to the trailhead. You can walk under the entire arch and then continue up on the loop trail.
Bankhead National Forest
The Bankhead National Forest is home to several more North Alabama waterfalls and miles and miles of hiking trails. It is a pretty rustic area, so make sure to download your trail guides and driving directions before visiting in case of no service.
There are also two campgrounds (Corinth and Clear Creek Campgrounds) located inside the Bankhead National Forest if looking to spend the night to have more time to explore!
Rattlesnake Saloon
How cool is it to have dinner in a cave?! Rattlesnake Saloon is located 1.5 hours west of Hunstville and makes for a unique experience! With the outdoor seating in a cave, a seasonal waterfall, and live music, it will be a dining adventure you won’t soon forget. There’s also a lodge and horseback riding on site! Rattlesnake Saloon is open Thursdays-Sundays.
Huntsville
Huntsville is a quickly growing and fun city to make a pit stop! After hiking and spending a night or two in the Bankhead National Forest, it’s a perfect spot to stop for a bite to eat and a stroll around downtown. While here, you can check out a competitive self-guided scavenger hunt, check out the US Space Museum, or take a stroll around the Botanical Gardens.
There are also several unique places to stay and plenty of hotels if looking for an upgrade from the tent!
Tip! Check out the Huntsville Multi-attraction pass for admission to 10 North Alabama attractions!
Here’s a complete weekend guide to Huntsville if you have additional time!
Walls of Jericho
We, unfortunately, didn’t have time to make it to these last few stops, but I did want to add them to the list as they would make for epic stops along your North Alabama Road Trip. We also travel with our dog, Thor, who is an old man and cannot hike for more than 2 miles without quitting.
The Walls of Jericho is an 8.1-mile hike that is rated as hard on Alltrails. The hard trek leads to amazing views, waterfalls, blue swimming holes, and river crossings.
Stephans Gap
Right near the Walls of Jericho trailhead, you’ll find Stephan’s Gap Cave Preserve. It was a bit hard to find a detailed guide to the cave, but in short, it’s a 143 ft cave that has a large walk-in entry that attracts rappellers and hikers. We didn’t make it to this stop due to not knowing the accessibility of it with an old-man dog that has a hard time rock scrambling.
It is located on private property and does require a permit to enter. It’s free to get and can be reserved here! Weekend permits usually sell out 2-3 weeks in advance. You will also need to bring along a helmet and headlamp to enter.
Pisgah Gorge Falls
Surprisingly enough, North Alabama is home to many waterfalls. But, they are of course dependent on the weather (it’s not the rainy PNW). We did visit during a drought and therefore the falls were not flowing, but the trail still led to beautiful views.
Pisgah Gorge Falls is an easy 1.5-mile out-and-back trail. After arriving at the parking lot you will see a stairway to an overlook of the falls. From there, you can continue on the trail to reach the overlook of the gorge!
Insider tip: It’s not a popular stop and you may feel as though you are at the wrong spot after first arriving. Our GPS brought us to the first parking lot (next to a deserted baseball field). We then continued down the short (and small) dirt road to get to the trailhead.
Little River Canyon Falls
I bet you didn’t know that Alabama was home to so many waterfalls?! Little River Canyon Falls is an impressive fall with an easy walking trail down to the overlook. You can also choose to walk down to the top of the falls using the stairs right off of the parking lot.
This was our busiest nature stop of the trip, but still, nothing compared to other states and parks. AND the water was actually flowing!
Desoto Falls and State Park
Desoto State Park is home to over 30 miles of hiking and biking trails. If looking for more of an adventure you can also kayak, swim, and even rappel in the park. For fellow waterfall lovers, you can head out on the 2.3 mile Laurel and Lost Falls Trail loop or the 1.9-mile Desoto Falls Trailhead (located 6 miles outside of the park). Again, the falls are weather and season-dependent. There is a 4 dollar vehicle admission fee at the Desoto Falls Picnic area.
Noccalula Falls
In the center of Noccalula Falls Park, you will find an epic 90-ft waterfall with a walking trail that takes you behind the falls. But, there’s more to see than just the falls at this park. You can stroll through the Botanical Garden, the animal habitat, and even check out some historical buildings that were built over 300 years ago! There are even unique miniature trains that will take you on a tour of the park.
If hoping to stay at the park, you can check out one of the 100 campsites. There are primitive sites and sites with amenities if you are a bit more bougie (like myself). It costs 6 dollars per person to enter and is open from March- October and weekends in November. It closes during January and February.
Cheaha State Park
The oldest state park in Alabama is home to the highest point in the state. Pulpit Rock trail is the highlight of this park as it’s a short .6-mile jaunt to epic views. It’s a great place for a picnic or to watch the sunset. If you are looking for a longer hike, you can check out Hernandez Peak and McDill Point Trail (4.9 miles). This trail is rated at moderate and will take you past old plane crash wreckage and beautiful overlooks.
There are cabins, a lodge, a-frames, and primitive campsites inside the park. If just visiting for the day, there is a 5 dollar fee per adult.
Sample North Alabama Road Trip with dogs Itinerary
- Day 1: Dismals Canyon (Camp here so you can explore during the day and see the glowing dismalites at night!)
- Day 2: Natural Bridge and Bankhead National Forest (Grab a campsite here as well!)
- Day 3: Morning hike in Bankhead National Forest, Rattlesnake Saloon for dinner, Huntsville for the night.
- Day 4: Spend the day exploring Huntsville (Stay in Huntsville for one more night)
- Day 4: Waterfall time! Pisgah Falls, Desoto Falls, Little Canyon Falls. (Stay near Fort Payne or Gadsen)
- Day 5: Noccalula Falls and Cheaha State Park. (You can camp in Cheaha State Park or start heading home).
Want to extend this Southeast Road Trip? Check out fun (and dog-friendly) things to do in North Georgia!
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